Monday, July 19, 2010

No Curfew During Ramadhan

On the second week of August, Moslems all over the world will start Fasting in the month of Ramadhan.

Last Saturday, Chairman of Moslem organization Nahdatul Ulama (NU) told members not to conduct any Curfew on entertainment places all over Indonesia during the Fasting month of Ramadhan which will start on the second week of August.

Considering that N.U is the largest Moslem organization in Indonesia, I hope that other Moslem organization here would also follow.this step. 

Please find below an news article about this that I have quoted from The Jakarta Globe.

Said Aqil Siradj, right, praying with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in this file photo, has called upon members of the Nahdlatul Ulama not to conduct sweepings of entertainment venues before the fasting month of Ramadhan.  (Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)
Said Aqil Siradj, right, praying with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in this file photo, has called upon members of the Nahdlatul Ulama not to conduct sweepings of entertainment venues before the fasting month of Ramadhan. (Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

NU Prohibits Members From Conducting Sweeps on Indonesian Entertainment Venues


The chief of Nahdlatul Ulama organization, or NU, has called on its members not to conduct sweepings on entertainment venues throughout Indonesia ahead of the Islamic fasting month.

“To keep the situation conducive during the fasting month NU members are called upon not to conduct violence or take the law into their own hands because sweeps or order operations on entertainment venues can only be carried out by the police or other law enforcement agencies,” 

NU’s general chairman Said Aqil Siradj said at the commemoration of the 87th anniversary of NU on Saturday.

“NU is an organization that is based on four pillars, namely the unitary state of Indonesia, the 1945 Constitution, the Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) principles and Pancasila (the five-principle state ideology),” he said.

“If law enforcement agencies are weak we must encourage and support them,” he said.

He said NU members must follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammad when he established the state of Madinah. “The concept he used is not for establishing an Islamic state or an Arab state but a civilized state,” he said.

He said people could understand the concept by emulating his respect for other religions and promoting equality and consistency in enforcing the law against Muslims or non-Muslims.

“If we insist on conducting sweeps it means we are building a state within a state because we make our own rules,” he said.

In view of that he called on all people in the country to participate actively in realizing the four pillars and avoiding violence which has often occured in various parts in the country.

“Right now violence often happens during local elections and distribution of cash handouts to the poor. Some have even died during distribution of alms. This is very concerning and should never happen again,” he said.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Harry,

Lets hope this message can be spread from Ramadhan into the rest of the year.
It would be good to hear more about the positive side of the islamic community than currently projected in the media and this could be the start.
I just hope people will follow the words and guidance from the NU.

Unknown said...

Hi Luke,

Let us hope so. Religious people are supposed to advocate peaceful and non-violent way of life.

Unknown said...

Hopefully we will all focus on the ibadah.Indeed Islam means peace.

CherylT said...

No curfew on entertainment? But isn't the whole reason for Ramadhan to connect to your spirituality?

Unknown said...

@Umihoney,
Yes I agree that we Moslems must focus on doing our Ibadah, religious duties, during Ramadhan.

@CherylT,
In the past, some group of people claiming to be acting on behalf of Islam, have violently close down or stopped activities which they thought might disturb people who fast.

colson said...

The sad thing is that he has to call on believers, the good thing is he does. May tolerance prevail.

Unknown said...

Hi Colson,
The fact that he has to call on
NU's members is both sad and good, in the sense that as a religious organization non violence should be always be practiced as a principle thus no need to be instructed.

Photographer said...

Peace out

NENSA MOON said...

Hello H Nizam,
Thanks for the visit and a kindly comment on my site.
I'm glad the fasting will be coming soon.. It's always a great time for us..esp for my children... In this moment we usually learn more about islam..
I hate sweeping or whatever it called which usually full of violance claimed by some muslim organizations as on behalf of the muslim..
Just hope the Fasting this time will run with peacefully..

Unknown said...

@Photographer,
Let hope there will always be peace in Indonesia.

@Nemsa Moon,
You are welcome.
Let us hope that the coming Ramadhan will bring peace, happiness for Moslems in particular and mankind in general, so that Indonesia would be a much better place to live.

Rob Baiton said...

Showing some tolerance and respect...how very peaceful and harmonious the world could be!

Unknown said...

Hi Rob,
I really hope that this time it would be for real. People are sick and tired of all the violence.

a Bohemian Market said...

Hi Harry:
We should all be tolerant of the kindness and brotherhood that religions give one another.
My eldest daughter is of mixed cultures (I am Heinz 57) and when she was 18 months old an older couple asked her what race she was; she said human. We can all be better and more kind.
Thank you for sharing Ramadhan with us.
peace
carole

Unknown said...

aBohemianMarket,
Yes people of different religions should be tolerant to one another.
Your story about your grand daughter is touching. Thank you for sharing.

Yari NK said...

I think Ramadan is about to put self-control over ourselves against drinks, meals, sexual activities and obscene sights and acts. It is not about to control others to respect others though of course mutual respects are necessary to harmonise the relationship amongst religions. But it doesn't have to materialise in forced curfew...

Insha Allah, if there's more temptation but we manage to get through the Ramadan we will get more rewards from Allah swt....

Unknown said...

Hi Yari,
You are correct, fasting during Ramadhan basically means that we should be able to control ourselves from our own feelings, lust, temptations, etc. Besides we should also show kindness towards others.